Package forming unit, packaging apparatus having a package forming unit and method for forming packages

Package forming unit for forming sealed packages filled with a pourable product from an advancing tube formed from a web of packaging material and being filled or fillable with the pourable product;

• the package forming unit comprises at least:
• a plurality of jaw units each having at least one respective operative assembly adapted to engage the tube and to at least partially form the, in use, advancing tube, one respective sealing element adapted to at least partially transversally seal the tube along a transversal sealing band and at least a pair of interaction tabs adapted to interact with the tube;
• a conveying unit configured to advance each operative assembly, each sealing element and each pair of interaction tabs along respective endless conveying paths;
• and
• a control unit configured to control operation of the jaw units;
• wherein the control unit is configured to control:
• each operative assembly while, in use, advancing along an operative portion (R1;
• S1) of the respective conveying path in at least a respective active state in which the respective operative assembly is configured to engage the, in use, advancing tube for at least partially forming the tube;
• and
• each pair of interaction tabs (20) while, in use, advancing along an operative portion of the respective conveying path in at least a respective active state in which each pair of interaction tabs is configured to interact with the, in use, advancing tube;
• and
• each sealing element while advancing, in use, along a respective operative portion of the respective conveying path in a respective active state in which each sealing element is configured to engage the, in use, advancing tube and to at least partially transversally seal the tube for forming the transversal sealing band;
• wherein the control unit is also configured to control:
• each operative assembly while, in use, advancing along an operative portion of the respective conveying path in a respective inactive state in which the respective operative assembly is disengaged from the, in use, advancing tube;
• and/or
• each pair of interaction tabs while, in use, advancing along an operative portion of the respective conveying path in at least a respective inactive state in which each pair of interaction tabs is disengaged from the tube;
• wherein the control unit is further configured to control each jaw unit as a function of the filling level of the tube in at least:
• an operative configuration in which the respective operative assembly, the respective sealing element and the respective pair of interaction tabs are controlled in the respective active states while advancing along the respective operative portions for at least forming and transversally sealing the tube;
• and
• a partial operative configuration in which the respective sealing element is controlled in the respective active state and the respective operative assembly and/or the respective pair of interaction tabs is controlled in the respective inactive state while, in use, advancing along the respective operative portion.